Sleigh Bells or Wedding Bells?

Welcome back to Thoughts & Musings!

The most wonderful time of the year is here! Not only are we surrounded by (or should be at this time) sparkling snowfalls, gingerbread cookies, twinkling lights, laughter, and hot cocoa, but it is also winter wedding/engagement season! You can probably imagine how exciting that is for people like us - event planners who LOVE all things weddings!

Staying congruent with the time of year, today’s topic will be covering winter wonderland wedding colors, and how best to coordinate palettes to capture your wishes and spirit of the holiday season! We will discuss that in two ways:

D A R I N G & D R A M A T I C

N A T U R A L & P U R E

Consider the vision for your wedding day - are you looking for extreme elegance or is the great outdoors more your style? Do you prefer modern or rustic? How about dark or light?

If your answers to these questions were elegance, modern, and dark, then the daring & dramatic palette would be perfect for your day. The colors include a pale pink, a deep purple (eggplant), a slate grey, and a dark blue (ink).

If your answers to these questions were outdoorsy, rustic, and light, then the natural & pure palette will capture your heart! The colors include a heavy green (emerald), a gold, a peacock-feather blue, and a tropical green (think Maui mountains).

Although both color combinations are slightly unorthodox in comparison to a traditional wedding, they make for beautiful arrangements and embellishments in the winter time! Just imagine how gorgeous the photos could be with dark blue (ink) bridesmaid’s dresses among the snowfall and your white gown, and the groomsmen in a slate grey tuxedo! How about the elegance that a deep purple (eggplant) velvet tablecloth and a pale pink napkin could add to your venue?

If that isn’t what you pictured, think about the centerpieces you could make with the peacock-feather blue and Maui mountain tropical green colors, and how amazing they would look among a gold charger, gold-rimmed champagne flutes, and gold-plated flatware! And you cannot forget about how sharp the ladies and gents in the wedding party would look in the heavy green (emerald)! Talk about sophisticated AND fun!

**BONUS: Still missing a little something? Spice either of these colors palettes with a cranberry red for a flare of flavor!

I believe that honesty is the best policy, so I have to admit that I, personally, never wanted a winter wedding because I, personally, am not a huge fan of the cold. However! After sharing with you these ideas, I may just need to change my mind when my time comes because WOW! How beautiful and DIFFERENT would this be ;)

See you next time on Thoughts & Musings, and until then, Happy Holidays!

Ball Gown, Mermaid, A-Line, Oh My!

Welcome back to Thoughts & Musings!!

In last week’s blog post, we covered how to determine which body type you are and how to rock it confidently, curves and skin and bones and all! This week’s topic: saying “YES” to THE DRESS!

Other than the wedding day itself, this may be the day ladies look forward to the most. They’ve dreamt of THE dress; you know, the one that fits in a way that is tasteful, yet tight enough to show off all the right things… if you know what I mean ;)

But with so many choices and styles, how could you ever pick JUST one?! Well hopefully, after reading this post (along with last week’s, as they go hand-in-hand), you will know which is the one for you.

• The Ballgown: Ooh la la, Cinderella! This dress is the one you see from fairy tales. It is fitted from the bust to the top of the waist, and then expands out into a very full, distinguished skirt. This dress is perfect for those with a pear-shape/athletic body build, as it defines the waist, slims the hips, and enhances your curves!

• The Mermaid: Helloooo, Ariel! This dress is tight (and I mean tight, tight) from the bust, to the waist, around the hips, to just below the knee, where it then flares out. This is stunning on those blessed with an hourglass figure because, well, it’s all about the curves!

• The A-Line: A fan favorite! This dress has a narrow cut at the top, sometimes elongated in between the breasts, and extends out into what looks like the shape of an “A” (duh). A perfect dress for nearly everyone, no matter the body type/shape, due to the loose fitting skirt and the bust-enhancing characteristics!

• The Sheath: Also known as the column dress. This dress is form-fitting, however, not tight, and follows the natural curve of your body. Those with slender figures with legs for days rock this dress the best!

• The Trumpet: Similar to the mermaid, this dress is made up of a straight-lined skirt and flares subtly around the knee into (you’ve guessed it) a trumpet shape. Much like the mermaid, those with an hourglass figure accentuate this dress wonderfully. Deciding between this dress and the mermaid dress really comes down to individual preferences, as the trumpet dress has a bit more room for you to move in.

• The Dropped Waist: True to its name, this dress drops just below the waistline and hip area before it flares out. Brides with a bigger bust and wider torso region look fabulous in this style dress!

• The Empire: Leave people talking about you for ages with this gown! This dress is known for its fitted bodice and waistline, as well as the loosely fitted skirt that moves with every step you take! For those brides who are petite, both in length and width, this dress is for you.

There you have it… the most common dress styles, anyway. This is YOUR day, and it should be about YOU, so I encourage you to indulge as much as you possibly can. Don’t get too worked up, but don’t settle either. Try on every dress in the store. Go to a different store, if that’s what it takes! Eat the chocolate and drink the champagne they give you (trust me, those few calories are worth the experience). Laugh with your bridesmaids. And make a decision not off of what others say, but off of how you FEEL in the dress. Everyone knows that happy girls are the prettiest girls, regardless of what they are wearing!

Be happy, through the whole process. You only plan to do this once ;)

Girl, Rock Your Body!

Welcome back to Thoughts & Musings!

I always look forward to the Wednesday’s when a new post is published! Today’s topic is all about the step before the best part of the wedding planning process… identifying your body shape so that you can find THE DRESS!

Finding the perfect dress for your unforgettable day can make a bride feel pressured. How will I know it’s the PERFECT one?! What if there is another one that I am missing out on if I choose this one?! There are so many different styles, how do I choose?! Everybody is going to be looking at ME when I take my first step down that aisle, and I just really want to have THE dress that will make their jaws drop…

These are all thoughts and stresses that every bride we’ve ever worked with have expressed at least once, and they are all justified. Some of our planners were once a brand new bride, too, and have walked those same shoes (and potentially the same aisle, to a different man of course) as you. So, Your Perfectly Planned Occasion comes to you with a basic guide to different body types to help you sort through the wedding dress styles and calm those racing thoughts in your pretty little head :)

(Note: these shapes are generalized. You may fall into more than one of these descriptions, much like one boob is bigger than the other for most women, and if so, we encourage that you try on different dresses that accentuate those shapes. Then, purchase the dress that looks and FEELS the best on you!)

• The straight body shape (rectangle): when your body measurements are the same, or very close to it, in all areas of your body. This body type is sometimes referred to as “the supermodel body”, and is the type of body that does not have a well-defined waistline.

• Pear body shape (triangle): when you have large hips and a smaller bust, you are likely a pear body shape. This is a very easily defined shape, especially when you picture a body being a triangle - wider in the hip region and smaller in the bust region. Rock those curves, girl!

• Apple body shape: when you have a bigger bust than hip section, your waist isn’t super well-defined, slim legs, round shoulders and petite arms. It may be easier to identify if you think of a body being an inverted triangle - wider up top and slimmer down bottom.

• Hourglass body shape: when your booty and bust are naturally round and proportionate to the rest of your body, with a slim waist. Think Jennifer Lopez!

• Oval body shape: when your bust is the largest part of your body, a fuller midsection, and narrow hips, you likely have an oval shaped body. Because your waist is not very well-defined, it is the widest part of your body. The narrow hips calls for a smaller butt and slimmer legs! Show them off!

• “Skinny” body shape: when you have small bone structure and your pelvis and shoulders are in perfect alignment. Many ladies with skinny body types have slender arms and legs and a well-defined jaw line.

• Athletic body shape: when you have a more muscular body structure, your shoulders are a bit broader and built, and your arms are slim and toned. It is likely that women with the athletic build have an elongated neck, well-toned curves, and thicker/more muscular thighs.

One body shape is no better than the next, and don’t feel confined to one particular shape! Often times ladies who know what body shape they fall under, and the characteristics they possess that might be part of another category, are much more confident and take pride in flaunting the assets that they have. However, body shapes are important… not because it is up to anyone else to decide how you should look and feel in your own skin, but so that YOU can look and feel like the FABULOUS woman you are! And so that you can confidently say “yes!” to the dress!

Keep on the lookout for the next Thoughts & Musings post where we will be discussing THE BEST part of wedding planning… Until then, ROCK ON!

Till Death Do Us Part

Welcome back to Thoughts & Musings!

It’s the spookiest day of the year… HALLOWEEN!! And in the spirit of this holiday, today’s blog will be about how to throw the best Halloween-themed wedding.

Now, I know what you might be thinking… holiday inspired events almost always end up being tacky, or a complete bust. If I’m being honest, I’ve attended a handful myself and loved the idea and appreciated the attempt, but was a bit disappointed in the result (keep in mind that because I do what I do for a living, I also am much more critical than most when it comes to details). The upside to this, though, is that I have some firsthand experience in what NOT to do when throwing a holiday-themed event, particularly a Halloween one!

So, if it is your dream to be a zombie bride, check out the list of do’s and don’ts below to ensure a tasteful and spooky wedding day:

• DON’T feel obligated to wear an all black wedding dress. There is symbolism behind white wedding dresses, and if your heart is set on following traditional with a spooky twist, consider this…

  • DO wear a silvery grey dress instead! It has a romantic Halloween twist, while still coinciding with the “white wedding dress” tradition.

• DON’T feel obligated to have an all dark color scheme, and/or make everything black and pumpkin orange.

  • DO choose a palette that is sophisticated and a bit ominous. Maybe instead of a bright, pumpkin orange, you use a muted, burnt orange accent on a plum purple base and a splash of burgundy. If you need color inspiration, I encourage you to search “Dark Autumn Colors” on Pinterest.

• DON’T feel obligated to make all of your guest come in costume. Not everyone celebrates Halloween as enthusiastically as the next, for one reason or another.

  • DO encourage your guests to wear one if they are comfortable doing so, and for those who would rather glam up the usual way for a wedding, grant them the opportunity to join in on the festive fun by having masks and Halloween props to use while taking photos!

• DON’T feel obligated to use black and orange cellophane and streamers to decorate your tables and venue.

  • DO splurge a little to set a really gorgeous table (after all, you’re only planning to do this once)! Order linens that fall within your color palette, maybe velvet ones, or use a generic black linen and spruce it up with an overlay.

• DON’T feel obligated to have a Halloween inspired wedding cake.

  • DO offer some sort of sweet for your guests. Need another idea? 3 words: HALLOWEEN CANDY BAR!

• DON’T feel obligated to decorate the room with orange and purple string lights and/or strobe light.

  • DO bring in different lighting options to create the ambiance you’re going for. Ask your DJ about uplighting options and colors. And if you really want to “wow” your guests, dim the lights in the room as low as possible and surround the ceremony in candlelight. It’s a romantic way to say “I do” (plus, think about how uniquely wonderful your pictures will be)!

• DON’T feel obligated to have monsters and ghost and ghouls lurking in the corners of the venue.

  • DO offer your service staff and bartenders the opportunity to tie in with the wedding theme. Consider allowing them to dress up in a costume you choose for them to work your wedding. It’s a touch most people don’t think about, and your staff will enjoy working for you even more (trust me ;) ).

There is so much more that goes into wedding planning as a whole, let alone a specific holiday inspired event between the food served to the favors for your guests to the music played, but here’s a taste. To learn more tricks and treats, reach out to one of our expert planners at:

laurie@yourperfectlyplannedoccasion.com

missy@yourperfectlyplannedoccasion.com

brittney@yourperfectlyplannedoccasion.com

Until next time, stay spooky!

Save the Date

Welcome back to Thoughts & Musings!

If you’re anything like us, the final third of the year is your favorite time! The colors are in their peak, nothing beats warm apple cider (or pumpkin spice lattes, if you’re into that sorta thing), and we have yet to find anything comfier than leggings and oversized sweaters!

Before we know it, we will be gobbling up a delicious meal or two with loved ones, while expressing gratitude for all the things that make your life as wonderful as it is. Football will be on the TV, and with a glass of fine wine (or a bottle of beer) and a warm blanket, the post-Thanksgiving meal nap will start to approach. You drift off thinking how life just couldn’t get any better than this…

Except it does! As if the holidays aren’t the happiest times of the year already, with the beautiful snowfalls, tasty gingerbread cookies, twinkling lights, and perfectly wrapped gifts, it is also the season of love and happiness! And you know what love and happiness leads to, don’t you?

ENGAGEMENTS!! Yay!

Did you know that 40% of soon-to-be brides are proposed to by their one and only between the months of November and February? That means that YOU could be next! Eeek… we are excited FOR you!

Say it is your time this year! He pops the question, maybe while ice skating at the park, or possibly by attaching the ring to the collar of the puppy he is getting you for Christmas with a sign that says, “will you marry my daddy?”. Whichever way he executes his perfectly planned proposal, we are virtually certain you will be overwhelmed with excitement and bursting with joy! Justified, for sure.

Are you ready for it? For what happens AFTER the engagement announcement? For what happens as you slowly drift from that high? Do you even know what I’m eluding to?...

Wedding planning! Oh boy… almost instantly that overwhelming excitement and joy you initially felt is rapidly shifting into uncertainty. Where do you start? What’s the first step?

Well, if you’re asking us and we’re being honest with you, we’d tell you to hire one of our expert planners 😉 I can assure you that after the first meeting with us, you will be back on cloud nine knowing that all that uncertainty has dissipated. And in that first meeting, the first thing we would advise you to do is narrow down the calendar and decide on what day is going to be the happiest day of your life, for the rest of your life!

Below are a few tips on how to do that:

- Consider the dates that have been significant in your relationship thus far – maybe the first day you ever met your significant, or possibly the day you two decided to be exclusive. Bonus: important dates make it easier for your groom to remember your anniversary. It’s simple science.

- If you are pregnant, keep in mind the baby’s due date. Take time to consider if you want the wedding before or after the baby is born, for each scenario comes with their own set of planning adjustments. Also, everyone knows life happens and things don’t always go according to plan, so when considering the due date, be sure to give yourself some wiggle room (between two weeks to a month should suffice).

- If you are planning to take a honeymoon, it may be a good idea to plan your wedding around that. Say you want to go to the Bahamas to celebrate your marriage, it’s probably best NOT to go during hurricane season; therefore, your wedding may be better suited for the Spring. Maybe you two are snowbirds, and plan to snowboard out in Colorado (which is likely what I will do with my hubby when my time comes), then picking a wedding date in late Autumn/Winter to accommodate your plans.

- Maybe you are more flexible, in which I would advise you choose the time of year that is your favorite! Is there a specific month, or even a season, in which you particularly love more than the others? Once you narrow that down, you can start to eliminate choices, given that each season is roughly 3 months. Take a look at the calendar, and make sure to avoid any prior commitments/obligations (and if there aren’t any, don’t worry about them coming up; much like you would’ve planned your wedding day around anything that was already on the calendar, you will begin to plan things around your wedding day. It is (one of) the most important days of your life, after all!)

- Consider the days of the week, and potentially your budget, too. Saturdays are the most frequently utilized for weddings, which can also mean they are more expensive in terms of venue rentals, catering menus, DJ/photography services, etc.

- Does your dream wedding take place indoor or outdoor? The weather can be an important factor, but it is obviously out of our control (and unpredictable if you happen to be a Michigander), so we recommend you don’t stress too much about that. It wouldn’t hurt to research the past couple year’s weather on your chosen date, though, to have a better idea what to expect around that time.

- Decide how long you’d like to be engaged for. Short and long engagements have their own perks, so whatever you prefer is exactly what you should do. Remember that this is YOUR wedding; be sure to do the things that make you happiest!

These are just a handful of things we recommend that you consider, and if you still cannot decide, we have about a few dozen more factors up our sleeves to help you pick the perfect day! And remember that this is only the FIRST decision you’ll need to make in the entire process of planning, so if this stresses you out, one – don’t let it and two – let us help you every step of the way.

This should be an enjoyable, unforgettable, and HAPPY experience, for you only plan to do it once 😉; we can ensure that we will make it that, and so much more! Give us a call (248) 486-5535!